Developing Professional Skills in Undergraduate Engineering Students Through Cocurricular Involvement

Abstract

As nations have sought to keep pace with rapid technological innovation, governments have renewed their focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, with emphasis on developing both technical and non-technical skills in STEM students. This article examines which engineering-relevant skills may be developed by participation in cocurricular activities by creating a literature-based framework of skills and attributes developed through categories of undergraduate involvement. The authors then validate this framework using two methods.

Acknowledgment

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship under Grant No. DGE1144152. Any opinion, findings, or conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.